Finding 522579 (2022-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
B
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2025-02-10

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Lack of management approval for 47 out of 60 payroll expenditures related to the CSBG program.
  • Impacted Requirements: Non-compliance with 2 CFR 200.303 and internal control policies regarding payroll costs.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Enforce existing policies to ensure proper approval of payroll costs and complete annual performance appraisals for staff.

Finding Text

Allowable Costs U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Community Service Block Grant – ALN #93.569 Criterion:Per 2 CFR 200.303, a non-federal entity must establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and terms and conditions of the Federal Award.Costs must be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal Award and allowable thereto under the principles in 2 CFR part 200, subpart E. Condition:Based upon our test work, we noted that the Time and Attendance Reports had no evidence of management approval for 47 out of a sample of 60 payroll expenditures charged to the CSBG program. In addition, 10 out of the 12 staff members whose wages were charged to the CSBG program did not have an annual Performance Appraisal completed.Cause and Effect:Management has processes in place to ensure that effective internal controls related to payroll costs charged to the federal program are properly implemented. The Organization’s documented policies and procedures (“Accounting Policies and Procedures Manual”, and “Human Resources Policies and Procedures Manual”) contains effective internal controls that were not utilized. Therefore, payroll costs charged to the federal program were not properly approved by management in accordance with 2 CFR part 200, subpart D & E.Questioned Cost:None. Recommendation:We recommend that management enforce their documented policies and procedures to ensure that payroll costs are properly approved.View of Responsible Officials:The Organization agrees with this finding and has developed a corrective action plan to address.

Corrective Action Plan

Responsible Persons: Director of Human Resources, Director of Community Support, Chief Financial Officer, Senior Managers, Department Managers Anticipated Completion Date: February 1, 2025 / On-going Corrective Action: The management of Clayton County Community Services Authority, Inc. has reviewed the above referenced finding and fully agrees with the recommendation to enforce the documented policies and procedures as it relates to ensuring payroll cost are properly approved. Management has immediately initiated the process where all timesheets and time and attendance records are reviewed for each pay period and properly approved before being submitted to the payroll department for processing and payment. Each department is responsible for this review and no employee will be paid without proper approval. Signed timesheets are also forwarded to the Human Resources Director and filed for further review. The Human Resources Director has initiated the process of the annual performance appraisal for each employee at the organization starting no later than February 1st of each calendar year. The performance appraisals should be completed by the end of the month in which they begin and will be properly reviewed and signed before filing in the employee's personnel file.

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
93.600 Head Start $977,322
93.569 Community Services Block Grant $229,089
10.558 Child and Adult Care Food Program $207,035
93.568 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance $78,978
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $35,200
81.042 Weatherization Assistance for Low-Income Persons $491